Snow-cleaning apparatus



March 15; 1927.

J. w. DILLAHUNT SNOW CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 2o, 1925 gi /Z 97mvmron Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

' tenses JOHN W. DILLAI IUN'I, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

SNOW-CLEANING APPARATUS.

Application filed. November 2o, 1925. Serial is. 70,235.

This invention relates to a track cleaning apparatus and among theobjects of the invention are the provision of an applianze of thecharacter set forth which is simple in construction and efi'ective'inaction and by which artrack can be cleaned of snow and foreign matterrendering the right of way easy to pass and free of every vestige 01'matter which migl'it affect the passage of a train.

' forth in the accompanying description to enable those skilled in theart to practice the invention. I am not restricted to this exactdisclosure; I may depart therefrom 1n a number of particulars wltlnn thescope of the invention set forth in the claims following suchdescription.

Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation (partially insection) of the appliance involving the invention, and

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same. Like characters refer to likeparts in both views.

In the drawing 2 denotes a standard road-. way comprising as iscustomary, the rails 3 and 4 on which a train travels.

A train generally involves a locomotive and a tender as 5 to which iscoupled a car as 6, hereinafter described. 1 In front of the locomotiveis mounted a hopper as 7 which has leading from rear end the pipes 8 and9, which have their rear ends connected with drums as 10 and 11. Thepipes 8 and 9 are sustained by brackets as 12, In the hopper 7, ismounted a transverse shaft as 13, sustained by arms and mounted in slotsat the extreme ends of arms as 14 which extend forward from the shaft15. The shaft 13 carries a number of blade fingers as 16, which areadapted to engage the crust on snow to pulverize the same and todislodge particles of ice, snow and other matter, which accumulate onthe surface of the snow. There may be situated between the inlet ends ofpipes 8 and 9 the wedge-like member 17 which insures the passage of theparticles lifted by the scoop or hopper into the pipes 8 and 9. Theshaft 13 is shown as continuously driven by 5 sprocket gearing such as18.

As the train travels the hopper or scoop 7 picks up snow and othermatter on and between the rails, which is delivered by the pipes 8 and 9and conducted by them to-the casings 10 and 11 from the tops of whichextend pipes 19 and 20 to deliver the matter cross-Wise of the lengthoftravel of the train.

T he drums 10 and 11 contain suction fans which are driven by some motorsuch as a gas engine as 21, the shaft of which is con nected by gearingas 22 with the shafts of the fans.

In action the locomotive travels along the right of way and the hopper?picks up all particles of snow from the rails which is drawn rearwardly'and is directed oppositely to the pipes 19 and 20 and which dischargesat opposite sides of the roadway or to either side as desired, by theaddition of an extension pipe as 23, shown in broken lines.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of alocomotive, a series of pipes extending longitudinally of the locomotiveat opposite sides thereof, a series of spaced brackets for supportingthe pipes, a

hopper sustaining the front ends of the pipes,- a wedge-like partbetween the front ends of the pipes, an adjustable shaft runningtransversely of the hopper, and provided with a series of fingersthereon, fan

casings into which the pipes extend, fans in the casings, and pipesleading from the easings for conducting material therefrom to oppositesides of the track.

2. In an apparatus of the class described.

the combination of a locomotive, a series ofj pipes extendinglongitudinally of the locomotive along opposite sides thereof, a seriesof spaced brackets sustained by the locomotive for supporting saidpipes, a hopper sustaining the front ends of the pipes, a wedgelike partsustained by the hopper, between I the front ends of-the pipes, anadjustable shaft extending transversely of the hopper and provided witha series of fingers, fan casings on thecar and pipes leading from thecasings for conducting material at op-, posite sides of the track,

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

JOHN w. DILLAHUNT.

